A/N: The reviews keep coming and coming. Thank you!!

Sorry for the delay, sickness and messed up email accounts can be blamed.

I'm so happy right now, I got my results from my Junior Cert on the 10th and I got 6 A's and 5 B's. I think I'm happier over the fact that I improved from a D to a B in Irish than anything else.

One thing I have to say before I thank everyone: Yes, after 16 chapters you finally get your wish.

Thanks to:

Reiko Katsura (Update Twilight Runway!! Lol 16-wheeler… hmm the idea…)

FRK921

Shining Eclipse

nicole036

EC4me

waterdemon9

ShatteredLoveBrokenDreams

bloodredeclipse

twilight-is-lovee

ericca.xx (I know you review every chapter, lol look back and see your name on the lists. The people who I thank for reviewing every chapter write a review for every chapter in one go)

Luvntwilight

Horsefreak01

I.Like.My.Men.Immortal

TwilightNerd

friscofrilly

XxEdwardLovaxX

pricel

F-Clearwater

kaosgurl00

Thanks to Shining Eclipse for being my beta.

Another thing I have to say: every now and then I go through the alert lists and take a look at all of your profiles, yes everyone's profiles. I even look at some of the stories (lol soyovita knows this when I plugged her story here earlier). The reason behind this rant-ish thing…. Half of you have NOTHING on your pages. Please, for the sake of the rest of us, put something up. Look at everyone else's, it's all random information and copy-and-pastes.

I want you all to demolish the review count, let's say 40 reviews for this? 104 of you are on alert and I get over 280 hits per chapter so you do the math. And also I'm not posting this until I have about 5,000 words so sorry for the delay.

"And when a heart breaks,

No it don't break even, even.

And what am I goin' to do,

When the best part of me was always you?

And what am I supposed to say,

When I'm all choked up that you're okay?

I'm fallin' to pieces, yeah.

I'm fallin' to pieces, yeah."

'Breakeven' by The Script

Oct 29th

Bella Swan

The weeks dragged by after the day we spent shopping. I hadn't been home at all since then; I wasn't allowed to go back.

Edward had been acting weird ever since we came back. I woke up in his room the next morning to him sitting on the couch, staring out the window with a hard expression on his face. He was a good actor; I'll give him that. Whenever I asked what was wrong, he lied. He might have thought that he was being convincing. And I let him believe that.

But it's hard to hide a secret from someone who's spent half of their life covering one up.

Charlie called everyday but never spoke to me. Occasionally, he's put on speaker phone and yelled 'hi' to me. That was the extent of our communication for the past two weeks.

Alice, Emmett, Rose and Jasper remained the same. They didn't act strangely when I walked into a room, they didn't stop a hushed conversation when I walked down the stairs, and they didn't look distant when I talked to them.

Great, what did I do now?

I groaned and fell face-down onto Edward's bed. It had been my routine to come up here after dinner each day and just lie with my face buried in the pillows. It was easier to think when all I could see was black or creased cotton. Also, the pillows absorbed any tears that fell when I was up here.

I chose to come up here everyday for two reasons. Firstly, Edward usually disappeared off at this time for twenty minutes to an hour, without telling or bringing anyone else. At first we questioned him about where he went, and what he did, but he just ignored our questions. Emmett joked about putting a GPS system in his car so as we could track him, but at this stage I honestly thought that most of us had considered that option. At one point, Esme went out to his Volvo to check how many miles he did during one of his trips.

The second reason I came up here was because the others were beginning to see me break down. With my new counseling sessions and treatments, it was easy to feign tiredness since it was one of the side-effects mentioned by Carlisle. I definitely was not one to cry or show weakness, especially in front of other people. But bottling it up just to face the others would only make matters worse. Coming up here to think over things and cry a bit helped me to control my emotions around other people. Today I was in a particularly bad self-loathing mood.

What had I done this time to cause all of this? Why couldn't I just be good and enjoy what little happiness was thrown my way? Why did I have to screw everything up?

"Bella?"

There was a knock on the door and Alice's voice filtered through the wood.

"Bella, you have to come to my room tonight to get ready."

I lifted my head off the damp material and checked the clock. Crap, it was the 29th. Tonight was the dance.

I had gone back to school a few days ago. I ignored the blatant stares and gossip that circled around me. Every day that passed made the whole school experience as monotonous and boring as I had first experienced. I was much better at handling group situations and the threats of panic attacks were minimal.

I couldn't believe that I had forgotten about the dance. The luminous flyers that were around school only jumped into my head now. I bit my lip when I remembered the day shopping for the dress and the day Edward, well Alice, asked me to the dance. It seemed so long ago that everything was so… perfect.

I sighed and got off the bed. "I'm coming."

Walking over to the closet, I hastily brushed back my hair with my fingertips. I walked up to the mirror and grimaced when I noticed my reflection. My face was blotchy, with pillow crease marks down both sides. My eyes were red and swollen. I tried desperately to make my face look normal again but nothing made a huge impact. Thankfully my eyes were already clearing up and I could just say that I fell asleep to explain the marks.

I pulled open the door and was met by Alice in what could only be described as her 'pre-battle' stance. She had a hairbrush in one hand and a towel in the other, ready to push me into her shower. She eyed up my appearance but didn't comment. I was then frog-marched down to her room.

I seriously debated faking an illness of some sort. Even with Carlisle around to prove me wrong, I was willing to try and get out of going to the dance by any means necessary. Two weeks ago I couldn't wait for this day, now I wanted to curl into a ball and wait for the earth to swallow me up.

I knew that tonight I had two possible scenarios; either spend a few uncomfortable, and to be honest upsetting, hours with Edward or be a third wheel to the others. I wasn't sure if Edward even remembered that tonight was the dance, he had already left twenty minutes ago and wasn't home yet.

I paid no attention to Alice's work. She pulled me out of the shower after the hot water ran out and made me snap back to reality long enough to dry myself. I was barely aware of being pushed into a chair and being assaulted by a hairdryer and curlers.

I trained one ear on the door, my heart half-hoping that Edward's Volvo would come up the driveway. The other half hoped it wouldn't.

Rose came in when Alice moved onto my make-up. She helped to pin up the curls at the back of my head while Alice powdered my face. I closed my eyes when she moved onto putting on eyeliner and mascara. They didn't open until after she had helped me into my dress.

"Bella, open your eyes now. We're finished."

I cracked my eyes open slowly. Alice and Rose stood to my right, looking both proud and awed at their work. I turned my head to look into the mirror. The dress fit me perfectly; it looked good against my pale skin and dark hair. My mask was one that could be held in my hand or up to my face. My eyes were smoky and heavily lined.

I turned away from the mirror as soon as possible. Alice darted across the room to take the rollers out of Rose's hair. Alice's hair had been slicked back elegantly sometime during my own transformation. They were both capable of applying their own make-up within ten minutes so I sat down on Alice's bed to wait for them.

Emmett's booming voice could be heard up here. He swore loudly.

"Jasper, we only have half an hour left! There's no way I'm going to be able to wash this out of my hair before we leave. Rose blow-dried my hair this morning for tonight."

Jasper laughed. "Dude, your hair is barely an inch long."

"That's what I said!"

Rose finished applying her make-up and stormed out of the room. Seconds later I saw Emmett running past the door to his room, being chased by Rose who was threatening to pour a glass of water over his precious Guitar Hero controller unless he got into the shower within ten seconds. He appeared to have what looked like an egg cracked on his head.

I sat silently on the bed, waiting for Alice to finish. Rose had quickly put on her siren-red silk dress and was now overseeing Emmett who was attempting to put on his suit.

It had been an hour and a half since Edward had left, the longest he had been gone so far.

The longest we had been apart from what I could remember.

I got off the bed and walked out of the room. I passed Jasper on my way across the hallway. He gave me a smile and walked over to wait on Alice. Walking into Edward's room I was aware that we were leaving in exactly two minutes.

I knew that what I would find would determine what scenario would happen tonight. I opened up the door to the closet and stepped inside. My heart wasn't pounding as I walked over to where Edward kept his suits and formal clothing; it seemed to slow down as if it was dying.

I ran my hand over the garment bags until I came to the dark blue one that I was looking for. I unzipped it and looked at the dark material that it revealed.

Well at least I was used to being alone.

Being a third wheel didn't bother me. I was the type of person who could be alone but not lonely.

I plastered a forced smile on my face as we drove to the school. Alice and Jasper were in the Porsche. I was riding with Emmett and Rose in Rose's BMW. Had Edward been here… well, I was trying hard not to think about that.

"Don't worry Bells, you can dance with me," Emmett joked. I tried to smile again but it came as a grimace. Rose discreetly hit him thinking he had hurt my feelings.

Emmett and Jasper both commented on how I looked before we left. I had almost forgotten I was in a dress until I nearly caught the hem in the door when I got into the car. I was counting down the minutes until the dance was over and I could take it off.

I hadn't been the only one to notice Edward's failure to arrive. Alice looked as if she could murder someone when we drove off without him. Emmett, too, looked angry but he seemed more determined to get me to smile than cause someone bodily injury. I was thankful for him to make the effort to include me tonight but I would have probably been better off ignored.

The drive to the school was undoubtedly awkward. Rose got a call from Alice who was screaming down the phone about her 'incompetent asshole of a sibling'. At first I thought that Rose had her cell on speaker, but then I realized that Alice was actually capable of that sound level. I pretended that I couldn't hear what Alice was saying and turned my head to face out of the window.

It was official; I had figured out that time could stand still. The dial on the dashboard told me that Emmett was driving at eighty, but the trees were flashing by at walking speed.

Great, now I'm officially more of a freak than before.

I closed my eyes and focused on calming the lead sensation that was coating my throat and stomach. I hadn't eaten much today so there was a very slim chance that I would throw up.

Threading my fingers together on my lap, I began to develop paranoia. What if Edward was there? What if he had gotten another date? What would people say when I showed up alone?

A small voice asked if I could handle a situation like this without him.

Could I do it? He had been with me every time I went out. He had been one of the things I focused on whenever things got too frightening. He had always been the one to calm me down whenever I got worked up.

The lead feeling in my stomach had now developed into an uncomfortable bubbling. I leaned my head against the window and hoped that I wouldn't throw up in the BMW.

"Bella, are you feeling okay?"

I heard Rose turn around in her seat. I clamped my mouth shut to minimize the risk of anything coming through it, word vomit or otherwise.

"Oh my God! Emmett, stop the car!"

"What's happened?"

The car came to a screeching halt and my eyes popped open in order to find something to hold onto. My seatbelt cut into my ribs.

"Bella? Are you okay?" Rose asked again. Both she and Emmett had turned around and were looking at me with extreme concern.

"I'm fine," I murmured, pulling my seatbelt away from my body to allow myself to breathe.

Emmett shook his head. "Bella, you're literally green. Your whole body has gone pale and you were out for a while back there. We thought you were sleeping until you started convulsing."

I looked down at my hands and noticed that they were white. My whole body seemed to be covered in a cold sweat. I shook my head, the only other time I had these things happen to me was when I was having the…

"Bella!" Rose shouted.

"No… no, no, no, no," I whimpered. The fits can't come back. They can't. I was done with all of the main treatments. They just can't come back.

Emmett started the car back up and pulled out of where we had stopped. He pulled the car sharply around to head back. Rose took out her cell and started to dial.

"You can't just go back now. I'll be fine," I argued weakly. Emmett shook his head while Rose muttered to someone on the phone.

"No, Bella. You need to see Dad straight away. Plus, you were in no fit state to go to the dance in the first place," Emmett said with more authority than I had ever heard him use.

Rose finished her conversation and flipped her cell down. "Alice and Jasper are on their way back. They just need to stop by somewhere first."

I groaned. "There is no point in all of you missing the dance because of me. Just drop me off at the house and go back."

Shaking her head, Rose spoke. "Bella, do you honestly think that we could enjoy ourselves when you are in this state? We were even debating missing the dance altogether when we found out that Edward was still MIA."

I flinched a little when she said his name. Okay he was officially the reason I hadn't been having any attacks in the past few weeks. Emmett continued to drive back to the house. His speed got us there in half the time it took us normally.

Rose opened her door and got out, slamming it unnecessarily hard behind her. Emmett seemed to want to crush something but thankfully he was smart enough to refrain from damaging the car. He opened my door for me and attempted to pull me out of the backseat. I swatted his hand away weakly and tried to get out of the car.

My shoes hit the gravel but had no grip because my legs weren't strong enough to put weight on my feet. I slowly slid forward. Time had definitely slowed down or stopped. The ground came up to meet me and all I could do was smile and greet it.

I could see Emmett's hands moving slowly out to catch me. It was almost comical, like when you see those movies when the scene slows down and you can hear the character going 'noooooooo'.

My back hit the ground first, the force causing me to almost bounce off the ground. The movement forced my body to tilt forward slightly. My legs then came into contact with the sharp stones on the driveway. I could feel some of them cutting into my skin, breaking it in a few places and even digging deeper in others.

I knew I should feel pain, or should have at least screamed when I fell, or even gasp. Anything.

But I couldn't feel a damn thing.

It was hilarious actually. I had stones buried in my thighs, even more embedded on the surface of my skin and I may have fractured a bone or two from falling awkwardly but I couldn't feel a thing. My laughs echoed around me, bringing everything into focus. Time started back again.

"Bella!"

Rose and Emmett stood beside me, looking shocked and worried.

Why should they look like that?

I howled louder. My laughing sounded demented even in my ears, but that only made the situation funnier.

"What's going- Bella!"

I spotted Esme running from the house towards us, Carlisle behind her. Esme went white when she took in my appearance. She dropped to her knees beside me.

"Bella? Bella, are you okay?" Tears were forming in her eyes as she patted my hand lightly. I couldn't even answer her; all I could do was laugh.

Rose made a choking sound. Emmett looked over at Carlisle. "What's wrong with her?" he asked quietly.

Carlisle dropped down beside Esme. He glanced over my body and checked my pulse. "Bella, can you talk to me?"

Of course I could.

I opened my mouth. Nothing but hysterical laughter came out. I snapped it shut and tried again. When I couldn't regain control, I became terrified. Carlisle asked Emmett something but his voice was too low to comprehend.

"No," Emmett replied. "It's still the same as always." He spoke with a hard voice, regretting whatever he was talking about.

Carlisle turned back to me again. "Bella, I want you to try and talk again."

Everyone looked at me expectantly. I couldn't do it. I couldn't speak. Tears rolled down my cheeks, cackling still came from my mouth.

"If you can understand me I want you to squeeze my hand, okay?" Carlisle extended his hand so it fit into mine. I gripped it tightly.

He nodded and stood up. "Emmett, help me bring her inside. We need to get her cuts checked out as soon as possible so they don't get infected."

Carlisle and Emmett pulled me up. A car came up the driveway as they brought me to the door.

"Bella! What happened?!"

Alice was beside us before Jasper had turned off the engine. She looked at Rose for an explanation before looking at me. Her face drained of color despite her make-up when she took in my hysterical laughter and tear-stained face.

I was brought up to Edward's room. Esme ran ahead to grab some old sheets to put under me so as Carlisle could fix my cuts without worrying about staining the good sheets. I was still laughing when they placed me on the bed.

"Do you know what's going on with her?" Alice asked. She somehow managed to push the large couch from the wall to beside the bed. She, Esme and Rosalie slumped into it.

"I think she is having a fit," Carlisle said bluntly. He gently held my leg up so as he could examine my cuts.

"A fit? I thought that she had to black out for a fit," Emmett said. Both he and Jasper stood at Carlisle's side, ready to assist in whatever way.

Carlisle shook his head. "There are many different types of fits and attacks. I'm seventy percent sure that I know the one she is in." He looked up at Esme, Rose and Alice on the couch. "She had cuts all up her thighs, I need you to take off her dress and put her in something that will allow me to examine them."

Within a second, Alice was in the closet. Jasper, Emmett and Carlisle left the room. Alice returned with a pair of what looked like shorts and a t-shirt.

"What happened to Bella?" Esme asked Rose. They held my body up gingerly as Alice unzipped the dress and pulled it off.

Rose shrugged. "We were going to the dance and then she just blacked out. She started convulsing but we managed to get her conscious again. When we came back, Emmett tried to help her get out but she refused and climbed out. She was on her feet for a second and then she just fell. She looked… kind of, out of it, for a moment before laughing like a maniac."

Esme nodded, pulling the t-shirt over my head and guiding my arms through the sleeves. Alice had put on the shorts and was sitting on the couch again. She glanced at the clock a few times. Rose stood up and went over to the door to allow Carlisle, Emmett and Jasper back in.

Carlisle had his leather case with him. He set it on the bed and opened it up, unraveling the rolls of scalpels, tweezers and other instruments. He pulled out a vial and began to fill a syringe.

"Bella," he said calmly, "I've done a bit a research during the past few minutes and your fit will pass easier if you are unconscious. Also it may be easier for me to fix your wounds if you are unconscious. Is it okay with you if I do that? Squeeze my hand once for yes." He put his hand in mine again and I squeezed it, wanting nothing more than this fit to pass.

Carlisle nodded and smiled at me. He pulled the silver syringe up and placed it at my arm. Once it had pierced my skin, I could feel the liquid calming me as it flowed through my blood. Within moments, I was unconscious.

Oct 29th

Edward Cullen

Ever since Charlie had called me, only two things ran through my head: protect Bella, and either get Phil arrested, or killed. I honestly didn't care which option became reality just as long as Bella was no longer in danger.

Everyday I drove to Charlie's house. He had been running daily patrols and had managed to increase the search warrant for Phil from wanted for questioning to wanted arrested. We mainly discussed anything that they had found out during the day. Sometimes nothing happened, sometimes something happened.

As I drove to Charlie's house I couldn't help but feel that I was forgetting something. I looked down and checked that I had my jacket. My keys were hanging in the ignition, my wallet was in my pocket and my cell was on the seat beside me. Whatever I had forgotten couldn't be terribly important since I had remembered everything that I needed.

I pulled outside Charlie's house, wondering whether they had found anything today. Recently they had gotten security camera footage from Phil's workplace and apartment garage. At one stage they managed to uncover a few phone conversations that he had from a phone in work.

Putting my cell in my pocket, I got out of my car and ran to the door; it was still slightly drizzling from the downpour earlier. Knocking on the door, the thought that I had forgotten something still grew in my mind.

Charlie's deputy opened the door. He held a finger up to his mouth to tell me to keep silent. Voices could be heard from the sitting room and kitchen. As we passed the door to the sitting room, it became clear that Charlie was not in that room. I was led to the kitchen. Charlie was on the phone.

"… we have them here. Yes, yes we will begin our questioning soon. Okay."

He hung up the phone and looked at me. His eyes were triumphant.

"Mark, shut the door."

Once the door was closed Charlie sat down in one of the three chairs in the kitchen. Mark took one of the other chairs.

"What's going on?" I asked.

Charlie grinned and pointed to the empty chair. "Sit down first and then I'll tell you."

I sat down but glanced between Mark and Charlie. Charlie sighed at my paranoid expression. He straightened himself up and began to speak.

"We were talking to the Seattle Downtown Station today and they told us that two people from Phil's workplace came to them to report suspicious behavior. The Chief in the station called me and sent them down here so both of us – us being the Seattle team, and our department - can question them. Also I have been calling the Phoenix station today and they sent up one of Phil's old co-workers so we can ask him a couple of questions as well."

I smiled. "So that means we have more information?"

Charlie nodded. "We can see about when he comes and goes, what he's like in work, what his supposed hobbies are… We've basically struck gold."

"We should go in now," Mark said quietly. Charlie got up and walked us into the sitting room. Three men and a woman sat in the small room. One of the men was an officer. Another was obviously from Phoenix since his skin was at least three shades darker than the other man and woman. Charlie took a seat beside the other officer while Mark and I stood due to the lack of seating.

"Okay, let's get started," Charlie said.

Ten minutes in to the questioning, my cell vibrated in my pocket. 'Mom' flashed across the screen. I pressed 'reject' and put my cell back into my pocket. Mom was always calling me so I didn't think much of the call. If it was something important then she could ring again.

The officer from Seattle began the questioning first. Charlie sat back and listened to the answers. My cell rang again. I silently went out to the hall and shut the door behind me.

"What?" I snapped.

"Where the hell are you?!" Alice screamed.

"Nowhere dangerous, unknown or of any importance to you so what do you want?"

Alice sighed into the phone, obviously frustrated.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Nothing's wrong," she replied but I knew something was not right.

"Then what's going on?"

Alice went silent for a moment before screaming once again. "'What's going on?' You're honestly asking me that? Think about what you may be forgetting, Edward."

I frowned. "What am I forgetting?"

"I cannot believe you just asked me that. Goodbye, Edward. Hopefully you'll remember before you screw everything up."

She hung up. I held the phone to my ear for a few moments, wondering what she was going on about. I shook my head and went back into the sitting room, knowing that whatever I was forgetting would probably come back to me later.

The officer from Seattle was still questioning when I walked in. He continued for what seemed like thirty minutes. Charlie then launched into his questions. I listened carefully to everything that was said, trying to commit it to memory.

My cell rang once again. I sighed and stepped outside again, noticing it was my father calling me.

"Yes?" I asked curtly.

"Edward, where the hell are you?"

I was shocked by his angry tone. "I'm at Charlie's house. Why? What's going on?"

I could hear Dad trying to control his breathing, something he always did when he was upset or angry at something.

"Dad? What's happened?"

He sighed. "I think it would be best if you came home before I told you, I don't want you driving after you find out."

I glanced towards the sitting room door. "But I have to stay here. I'll come home-"

"Edward!" Dad roared. "Bella's after having a fit!"

I froze. Bella had a fit? Was she okay? How did it happen? What-

"Just get back here as soon as you can. Drive carefully," Dad said, interrupting my thoughts.

I snapped my cell shut and walked over to the front door. I grabbed my jacket and ran swiftly out. All I cared about was seeing Bella.

I pushed the speed on my Volvo to new limits. The trees and other vehicles past in blurs. I paid no attention to anything. When I arrived home, everyone was in the dining room, sitting around the table. Mom, Alice and Rose looked severely shaken. Emmett looked as though he wanted to pound something to dust. Jasper and Dad looked worried but calmer than the others.

Alice glanced over when I walked in and launched herself at me. She began screeching and pummeling whatever body parts she could reach. Jasper ran over and pulled her off me.

"How could you do this to her?" she sobbed.

I stood still, shocked by what she was accusing me of. "How could I do what?"

Emmett growled. "You honestly want to know what you've been doing?"

I nodded.

"Why don't we start with you ignoring us all? How about the way you've left us in the dark as to where you've been, and what you've been doing? You've barely spoken to Bella the past two weeks. Do you have any idea how upset she's been? Every time you leave, she goes upstairs and cries. And to put the cherry on top of all of this, you completely forgot about what was happening today."

I was shaking now with anger. "What? What was happening today?"

Mom shook her head and looked at me. She stood up and pulled something from her lap. It was some tattered, green material. She shook it out and I finally realized what it was; Bella's dress.

The dance.

"I couldn't have forgotten," I muttered, checking my watch. Sure enough the little dial told me it was the twenty-ninth.

I sank to the floor as reality hit me; I had hurt Bella. My head snapped up when I remembered one very important detail.

"The fit. What happened to Bella?"

Dad sighed. He looked at me and must have seen the desperation in my eyes because he launched straight into telling me the truth.

"Bella had a very complex fit. She was conscious during it. She had small convulsions during the ride to the dance but Emmett and Rosalie managed to get her conscious again. During her fit, she could understand what we were saying, hear us perfectly, and even acknowledge what we were asking by squeezing our hand. But she wasn't exactly… there. She was laughing hysterically until we gave her an injection to make her unconscious."

"Why was she laughing?" I asked quietly.

Dad let out a deep breath. "Her mind has been through a great deal of stress recently. She built up security since she moved here and, well, because of… you, her mind has been pushed into anxiety and fear just like before. When you didn't show up today," he gritted his teeth as he spoke, "her mind automatically shut down all stress areas. That's what made her laugh."

"Will she be okay?" I whispered.

"She should be okay but I have to warn you, she might not be as trusting. She should be conscious soon."

I nodded and swallowed hard. "Can I go up to see her?"

Dad glanced around him. Alice was still glaring at me, as was Emmett. Rose and Esme were both staring at the table. Jasper was pacing around the room. Once it was confirmed that only Alice seemed to have a murderous look in her eyes, Dad nodded.

I walked upstairs quickly, taking the stairs two at a time. I pulled at my hair when I reached my door, wondering what state Bella could be in. I turned the handle slowly, pushing the door open tentatively.

The light was off, only the moon lighting the room. I half expected it to spill over Bella on the bed but the light came in at an angle which made the light shine in the opposite direction to the bed. I could make out Bella's form on the bed. Turning on the light, I closed the door and made my way over to Bella.

She appeared to be sleeping but I wasn't sure, she could still be unconscious. Her legs were covered by the sheets but I could see that they were bulked up with something else. I ran my hands across the bed until they reached the top of the sheets. I slowly pulled the sheets down. Bella's legs were bandaged up, her left arm in a temporary cast. It made me feel sick that Bella had been hurt. She stirred and rolled over, facing me. Her forehead creased.

I sat down carefully beside her on the bed. Reaching over, I brushed her hair off of her face. Her face relaxed at my touch. A feeling of relief passed through me, and I bent down and pressed my lips against her cheek. The corners of her mouth twitched. I paused and cautiously dragged my lips across her cheek until they came to the corners of her mouth. Very carefully, I kissed her.

At first, she didn't respond. I was thrilled that I was finally kissing Bella but the real joy could only be unlocked if she was kissing me back. Then suddenly she made a murmuring noise and her lips started to move. My heart leapt and I held her face. Her mouth opened slightly.

And she screamed.

A/N: DO NOT KILL ME! I know that you have every right to be mad at me but this is basically the start of things to come. I didn't even plan for this chapter to go so… sadly/depressingly/badly pick your favorite. Blame my iPod if you must, I turned it on and it started to play the single most depressing song I have so the idea just jumped into my head and everything else for the future chapters just fell into place after that idea.

On a brighter note: over 6,000 words, 10 pages!

REVIEW!! Please I really want to get close to the 300 mark.